Southwestern Ontario's largest school board is leaving it up to parents to decide whether their little one will wear a face covering when students head back to the classroom after March break.
The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) sent a letter to families Friday afternoon advising that kids will return to a "more typical learning environment" on March 21. That is the date the provincial government will lift the mask mandate for most indoor public settings, including schools.
"Thames Valley highly encourages masking for students, but honours and respects personal and family choice. Masking will no longer be mandatory for students, staff and approved visitors in schools, school board offices and on student transportation," the letter to parents states.
For those who choose to continue wearing face coverings, free ones will be provided, the board said.
The exception to the end of mandatory masking within the board, is for students returning from international travel. Under federal travel requirements, they must wear a face covering in public spaces and maintain a list of all close contacts for 14 days upon entry to Canada.
Earlier this week, Middlesex London's Medical Officer of Health Dr. Alex Summers said publicly that he would be advising area school boards to recommend continued masking to students and staff.
"The impact of that masking is critical to limit transmission in those settings," said Summers.
However, he said he did not anticipate mandatory masking policies for schools would be introduced by the health unit.
Other provincial guidance Thames Valley intends to follow after the March Break is the ending of cohorting and social distancing, both indoors and outdoors, and limitations on in-person gatherings and assemblies. This clears the way for proms and graduation ceremonies to go ahead this spring.
Parents dropping off or picking up children at before and after school programs will no longer be required to provide proof of vaccination to enter the building. There will also no longer be restrictions on athletic activities, music or singing within Thames Valley schools.
Daily on-site confirmation screening is being scrapped, but students will still be required to complete the Education Ministry’s COVID-19 School and Child Care Screener prior to attending school or boarding the school bus.
"We acknowledge and respect that some families may feel uneasy about these changes to health and safety protocols, and we welcome and support personal and family choice," the board said.
The few public health safety measures that will remain for the rest of the school year include extensive cleaning protocols, access to free rapid antigen tests, and absentee reporting. Additional HEPA filters will also be deployed to schools and classrooms as they are sent to the board from the ministry.